aggravate
Make considerably worse
Aggravate means to make worse: The medication aggravated her symptoms, His comments only aggravated the situation.
In common usage, aggravate also means to annoy or irritate: Stop aggravating your sister.
This second sense, though widely used, is considered incorrect by some traditionalists who insist the word should only mean "worsen."
Cause mild anger
- exasperateAnnoy to frustration
- vexTo irritate persistently
- irkTo mildly vex
- peeveSmall recurring annoyance
nettle · gall · pester · bother · nag · harass · badger · ruffle
Intensify emotion or irritation
- irritateCause mild anger
- flareSudden bright burst
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
- inflammationProtective tissue response
redness · soreness · tenderness · worsen · exacerbate · chronic · acute · arthritis
irritate
Cause mild anger
- exasperateAnnoy to frustration
- vexTo irritate persistently
- irkTo mildly vex
peeve · nettle · gall · pester · bother · nag · harass · badger · ruffle · pique
inflame
Intensify emotion or irritation
inflammation · redness · soreness · tenderness · worsen · exacerbate · chronic · acute · arthritis · injury
exacerbate
Make a situation worse
heighten · amplify · magnify · inflame · deepen · worsen · deteriorate · complicate · increase · multiply
taunt
Insulting provocation
- goadIncite to action
- baitLure for prey
- antagonizeIncite hostility in
incite · instigate · needle · tease · mock · rile · anger · enrage · infuriate · upset
- escalationescalation, escalate, ratchet up, worsen, intensify
- adding insult to injuryrub it in, twist the knife, make it worse, worsen, exacerbate
- agitateagitate, stir, rouse, disturb, rile up
- teasingtease, teasing, rib, ribbing, josh
- misused wordsliterally, irregardless, ironic, disinterested, nauseous
- aggravated assaultsViolent crimes causing injury
- aggravated batteryViolent crime with harm
- aggravating factorsConditions worsening an offense
- aggravated murderKilling with enhancing circumstances
- aggravating circumstancesConditions warranting harsher punishment
- aggravated burglaryTheft involving weapon presence
aggravation, aggravating, aggravated, aggravates, aggravations, aggravator, aggravators